Anybody had this happen?

[Superdave]

The rack on one of my steering cables broke in half. Steering locked up. Good thing I was going straight and not too fast!

[vector mike]

Fortunately no. I run a dual rotary steering. It works great. I don't hear much about them but I like it.:)

[2scoops]

I have never seen a rack style break like that,I have a rotary style and have broken it twice!!

[vector mike]

Were you running a single or a dual rotary system? Do you use a torque tab on your skeg?

[Superdave]

Dual flat rack Detmar system, torque tab. Still had lots of torque though.
Dave

[2scoops]

I have a morse command 290 helm on an stv euro with mod 260 It is a dual cable helm,I have a torque tab welded to the sportmaster lower,Steering torque was incredible with Lightning et 30,I thought that is why it broke the first time,I presently run a mazco 28,much less steering torque,broke again!!!! I believe the max rated H.P. for this helm is 150,I think the main reason they are used in boats like ours are the light weight and they dont take up any room under the dash.Somebody out there must know more about this?fill us in!!!

[vector mike]

I didn't realize they were HP rated. I'm wondering if this is something I too should be concerned about. I'm over that rating but have very little steering torque. I have a Bob's LU with torque tab and run a 29 Cleaver.

[Liqui-Fly]

www.teleflex.com

The rotary systems differ. Some are up to 150 some are unlimited. The best systems are the No-Feed-Back (NFB) ones. I prefer the rack myself and have heard stories about the rotaries locking up when you adjust them tightly to take the slack out.

David

[Techno]

You can see my no feed back system apart on my site. Its a simple deal. The planetary gear system x2 surprised me when I opened it up.
A spring wound over a hub latches onto it like a brake when no steering input. When you steer this opens the spring. It's like having a brake on the steering wheel.
It does seem to be a stiffer steering system though.


I now know why I could never shift the engine from the back! I always had to go up and turn the wheel.

[NPK2003]

I too thought that the torque was excessive on my Euro running a 28 ET. I ran it last year for 10 minutes and put it away. HOWEVER, this year I had a situation which left no alternative but to put it on again. When I started to run it, I felt very little torque. In fact, the streering was so light and the back was pretty loose over 70 mph around corners. I realized that I had raised up the motor (manual setup) about 5/8 of an inch a while back. The next weekend I dropped the motor about 3/8" back down and the slippery turn stuff went away but the torque is still way down. Try going up in 1/8" increments and see if the torque goes down. BTW, running a sportmaster LU with Baker-like mod and Ally cut skeg. Was running CLE last year too, so that may have contributed to the change, but my RE-3 felt the about same with both LU's.

Might be worth a try as those et's aren't cheap!

Nick Kaye:)

[LaveyT]

I busted a tooth out of mine a year or so ago,I turned the rack 180 degrees and its still workin.I had a bunch of torque on the wheel at that time.Time for hydralic for me.

[2scoops]

When my rotary broke on the river two weeks ago,right off the trailer!!!!,I flipped the cable wheel assembly around backwards and am now using the secondary wheel as the drive wheel,saved my weekend but it,s hard to forget at 100 plus!,since I cant find parts I am gonna switch to hydraulic also.

[PFord]

Bullet Boats was using the Teleflex racks and they were experiencing problems with the teeth breaking off, I am not sure if they had the rack itself break but could have. If you had a bad rack they would replace the rack system with the Hydraulic at no charge. I know this doesn't explain or help out any just some information.